Bing Eyes County Executive Seat

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing announced on Tuesday he would not seek re-election, but indicated he might run next year for the office of Wayne County executive, now held by fellow Democrat Robert Ficano.

With Bing out, the leading contenders in the August nonpartisan primary are former Detroit Medical Center Chief Mike Duggan, Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, and attorney Tom Barrow, nephew of legendary boxing champion Joe Louis and runner-up to Bing in the 2009 mayoral race.

Elected as a reform candidate in 2009 following the exit of disgraced Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick on corruption charges, Bing, 69, a former NBA star, found himself presiding over a city wallowing in a growing tide of red ink.

Last year, over objections from the mayor and the Detroit City Council, Michigan Republican Gov. Rick Snyder appointed attorney Kevyn Orr as emergency manager of the Motor City to completely oversee the city's finances.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax.